Highlands Ranch
Herald
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 26, Issue 4
December 13, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourhighlandsranchnews.com
Two district principals out of jobs School officials claim violations of policy on substance abuse By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Two Douglas County elementary school principals left their positions Dec. 7 following allegations of substance abuse violations.
Ally Berggren, principal of Buffalo Ridge Elementary in Castle Rock, and Alan McQueen, principal of Heritage Elementary in Highlands Ranch, both reportedly violated Douglas County School District policy on substance abuse, according to letters sent to the parents of students at both schools. Berggren resigned, and “is receiving treatment with support from the district,” according to the letter. The letter about McQueen’s departure said only that he “will no longer serve … due to the violation of Douglas County
School District policy regarding substance abuse.” Because they are personnel issues, district officials said they cannot comment further on the departures. News of McQueen’s dismissal was shocking for Chris Cingrani, former Heritage Elementary Parent Teacher Organization president and member of its School Advisory Council. “Any time something like this comes out, it’s very unexpected,” said Cingrani, who said he could not comment on any specifics
surrounding the decision. “He’s definitely going to be missed. He was a great leader and a visionary for Heritage.” Cingrani said he heard complaints from some parents that the district’s letter announcing McQueen’s departure provided either too much or too little information. “I think it was handled as best it could be handled,” he said. “It’s a no-win situation. It’s a very unfortunate set of circumstances for all parties — for Alan and his family, for Principals continues on Page 10
Pot officially becomes legal
DOING THE REINDEER REACH
Washington state may offer glimpse of future By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
Callista Larson, 3, tries to reach one of the reindeer visiting Town Center South on Dec. 8. Activities for kids during Highlands Ranch’s Hometown Holiday and Tree Lighting also included writing letters to Santa and creating Christmas crafts. For more photos from the event, turn to page 31. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Children’s Hospital prepares to ‘top out’ Patients, staff sign beam at Littleton clinic By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com On target to open in December 2013, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s South Campus is preparing for a ceremonial moment on Dec. 17 — and the community is invited. The raising of the topping-out beam of the Highlands Ranch hospital will bring together hospital dignitaries, patients, community leaders and staff, and according to Children’s Colorado Vice President Suzy Jaeger, there will be a little fun too. “We let the kids sit behind the cranes and help the construction workers get it up to the top of the building structure,” she said. “It’s very much a Children’s tradition. It really connects all the dots and makes you understand why this kind of stuff is really important. It’s really symbolic of the importance of this community.” In preparing the beam, patients, hospital staff members and construction workers gathered this past week at outpatient clinics throughout the south metro area, as well as at Hometown Holidays Friday night in Highlands Ranch, to sign the beam. One of those signing the beam at Littleton’s Outpatient Specialty and Therapy Care Clinic Dec. 6 was Jordan Corray and his children Capri, 8, and Logan, 5, both of whom have been patients at Children’s. “We’re very excited to have Children’s
Suzy Jaeger, vice president of Children’s Hospital, watches as Dominic Valdez, 5, signs his name to the “topping out” beam that will be raised Dec. 17 at the hospital’s South Campus in Highlands Ranch. Photo by Ryan Boldrey
The state of Washington may provide Colorado with some ideas of how — or how not — to handle the legalization of marijuana. As the reality of legalized pot in Colorado became official Dec. 10 when Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a proclamation, certifying the vote, marijuana advocates in the northwest coastal state had already been legally lighting up for a few days. According to an Associated Press story that ran Dec. 7 - one day after pot officially became legal in Washington - the Seattle Police Department instructed its officers only to issue verbal warnings in cases of public use and not to write citations as offenders of the public use law flocked to the Space Needle to celebrate legalization publicly. According to the story, police spokesman Jonah Spangenthal-Lee wrote on the SPD Blotter that officers would be advising people to take their marijuana inside. “The police department believes that, under state law, you may responsibly get baked, order some pizzas and enjoy a ‘Lord of the Rings’ marathon in the privacy of your own home, if you want to,” Spangenthal-Lee wrote.
On the home front
Lawmakers in Colorado, led by Hickenlooper’s recently appointed task force, are still figuring out details of the new Colorado law. Will local law enforcement act the way of Seattle’s police force? No one can say for sure when it comes to municipalities such as Denver, Boulder or some of the more liberal-leaning mountain towns, but in Douglas County, lighting up in public will definitely cross the line. “I’m the type of guy where what you do in your house is your business, but once you bring it out to the street it’s a different ballgame,” said Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver. “Especially with our youth. If someone (possessing pot) is coming from a school, there’s a problem there.” Under Amendment 64, marijuana remains illegal on school grounds throughout the state, and even the University of Colorado at Boulder recently announced pot would not be allowed on campus or in campus dormitories. “Local law enforcement is in a very tight spot, because you are going to have this possession which is legal, but there’s no legal supply yet,” said Colorado Deputy Attorney General David Blake. “We know it Pot continues on Page 10
closer to home,” said Corray, who as superintendent for Sturgeon Electric has done a lot of work for Children’s, including building the catheterization lab where Capri wound up at the Aurora campus. “We know we get the best care there. Having it close to home is going to be a real convenience.”
The south campus, which broke ground May 23 in Highlands Ranch, will offer inpatient care, a wide range of outpatient services, a 22-room urgent care, a sports medicine program, four operating rooms, numerous laboratories, imaging and diagHospital continues on Page 10
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